There is a time in U.S. history that we generally take for granted, if we think of it at all. This nation defines its early history through the Revolutionary War and the goings on in Philadelphia in 1776. Despite that history, the United States almost wasn't. In 1787, when the constitutional convention met, the very idea of united states was in issue. Rather than rework the Articles of Confederation, the founding fathers took the convention in a different direction, with great controversy in...

Quite simply, "100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die" is a must-read for Orioles fans and for those who just love good baseball stories. This is part of a series of books on sports teams by writers from various major league cities. Connolly, the national baseball writer and Orioles reporter for The Baltimore Sun, seeks to recap the history of the franchise, highlight major and minor figures in Orioles history, and recite some of the best Orioles stories. He does so with...

In case this is the first time you've found our blog, welcome! Once a week, we take a look at a book that is a favorite of mine that helps eat up all that baseball travel time. The Enoch Pratt Free Library lends us a hand with recommendations from their staff, we note others sites that offer suggestions and, thanks to you, we have recommendations in the comments section. Thanks for that. Generally, you don't figure to be lying on the floor and laughing your head off when you read a mystery...

There will be books written about baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams for as long as the printing presses roll. Williams provided a lot of material in a life filled with his baseball superstar status, turbulent private life, running quarrels with the Boston baseball press and cryogenic ending. In "The Kid," Ben Bradlee Jr. left none of that life untouched in this can't-wait-to-turn-the-page read. Check out the accompanying video for more on "The Kid." A shout out to the Selby Public...

Crazy Horse is a name that evokes the history of Native Americans in the western United States at a time when they were being pushed from their lands, and the violence between U.S. troops and numerous tribes was ongoing. Among the most noted of all chiefs, Crazy Horse's life is tough to recreate. Larry McMurtry tried to do just that in "Crazy Horse - A Life," written in 1999. The writing is suburb. The story is engrossing. Check out the video for more on the book. I am delighted the Enoch...

In my 30 years of broadcasting Major League Baseball, there have been far too many plane rides, far too many delays and what could have been, far too many wasted hours. Thank heavens, since the earliest years, I have loved to read. Books are friends to me. Libraries are where those friends live. I engage both as often as possible in my travels. Just for fun, with the help of some friends at MASN (the human kind) and the wonderful folks at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, we begin...

Right-hander Lucas Giolito had a superb second start for high Single-A Potomac at Wilmington on Thursday night. The Nationals' top prospect Giolito (0-2) went six innings and allowed one run on five hits, striking out a career-high 11 batters in a 1-0 loss to the Blue Rocks. He faced 23 batters, and induced five groundouts and one flyout. Wilmington's Frank Schwindel had a triple and RBI single against Giolito that plated the game's lone tally in the sixth. The P-Nats' offense could not...

SAN DIEGO - Padres starter Tyson Ross opened the game by striking out Nationals center fielder Denard Span. Then the skies opened up, and for only the fifth time in the history of Petco Park, a Padres game was delayed by rain. One hour, 56 minutes later, the game resumed with third baseman Yunel Escobar softly grounding out to Padres first baseman Will Middlebrooks. Ross then struck out left fielder Jayson Werth swinging to end the Nats' half of the inning. Right-hander Doug Fister quickly...

If the recent past is any indication, the Orioles' three-game series against the Angels that begins tonight at Camden Yards will be hotly contested. The margin for error will be paper thin. The Orioles won the series last year, 4-2, and every game was decided by two runs or fewer. Wei-Yin Chen has allowed six runs and 10 hits in 10 1/3 innings over two starts against the Angels. He's walked six, struck out 10 and served up three home runs. Angels starter Jered Weaver is 1-4 with a 4.98 ERA in...

SAN DIEGO - Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon returned to Florida today to restart his baseball activity, according to manager Matt Williams. It will be the second time this season that Rendon has been forced to spend time rehabbing away from the team in Florida after initially spraining his left knee during the exhibition season. Rendon seemed to be days away from rejoining the Nationals when he began experiencing tightness in his side during a minor league rehab stint on April 28. He was...